Saab 9-3 BioPower

Sustainable Technologies are defined as technologies that are designed to use less energy and reduce the impact upon the environment. Sustainable development has become gradually more important over the past decade as concern and publicity about global warming has increased. People are now looking for more sustainable technology that will help reduce CO2 emissions, as well as alternatives to fuel because of the rising prices and the reduced availability or oil.

The sustainable technology that I have decided to describe is the Saab 9-3 BioPower. The Saab 9-3 BioPower is identical to the Saab 9-3 and is available as a Convertible, Sport Saloon and Sport Wagon. The crucial difference between the two is the ‘flexi fuel’ engine. The flexi fuel engine is able to run on both bioethanol E85 or ordinary petrol. The engine is able to detect what fuel is being used and automatically make the necessary changes.

Bioethanol is mixed with low quantities of petrol to make a powerful alternative fuel. It is available in different concentrations, the most common being E85, the number referring to the percentage of bioethanol it contains. Using biofuel produces 70% less CO2 than ordinary fossil fuels. The process of manufacturing biofuel actively helps to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, as the crops grown to make bioethanol absorb CO2 through photosynthesis. Although burning bioethanol produces carbon dioxide, 70% of the emissions are absorbed by the crops in the production process. Bioethanol also helps to reduce the use of oil as a fuel, which is a finite resource.

This particular project is important to me as I have a passionate interest in cutting the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by cars. Many people that own environmentally unfriendly cars that emit large quantities of carbon dioxide are oblivious to the long-term effect they are having on the environment or just don’t care because don’t see it as their problem. Therefore I believe that the publicity that a BioPowered car would generate would make people more aware of the impact that they are having on the environment and reduce the amount of people driving cars that have such a detrimental effect on the environment. The issue of Global warming is a serious issue and we cannot ignore it, in the hope that it will fix itself. Only changes that we make to our lifestyles can have an effect and therefore technologies are needed now that will combat the problem. I believe BioPowered cars are a step in the right direction.

The ways in which I will find out more about the Saab 9-3 and BioPower is by using internet resources such as the British sugar, Bioethanol website the Saab website, and the Saab BioPower website. I will also contact a Saab dealership to find out more details about the car itself and see whether people are beginning to buy Bioethanol cars over petrol cars.

Saab BioPower Website
www.saabbiopower.co.uk

British Sugar Bioethanol Website
www.britishbioethanol.co.uk

Saab Website
www.saab.com